By ST’s Jim Mashek / Photo by ST’s Marlow Hazard
Meadow Tisdale understands her role with the Bowling Green High School girls basketball team.
Grab rebounds. Intimidate defenders. Clean up messes under the basket.
But most of all, inspire confidence.
That’s what Tisdale, the 6-foot freshman, did for the Lady Purples in the KHSAA Fourth Region Tournament on Friday night at E.A. Diddle Arena. With Sinayah Shelton having an off shooting night, Bowling Green used Tisdale’s tenacity to keep Russell County at bay, claiming a 47-29 victory to reach the championship game against Barren County.
Elizabeth Bertram scored 31 points to lead Barren County past Logan County 72-43 in the nightcap.
Tisdale was everywhere for the Lady Purples, finishing with a game-high 17 points and 20 rebounds. She hit 7 of 11 shots from the field and also finished with three blocked shots and two steals.
BGHS coach Craig Head brought sophomore guard Emma Huskey to the podium when it was over. Huskey and the other Lady Purples guards never let Russell County’s Star Marcum find her rhythm, and BGHS outrebounded the Lady Lakers 39-22.
“I just knew that (Marcum) was a driver, that we would have to keep her out of the paint,” Huskey said.
Marcum was the only Russell County player in double figures, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds. Juliah Bault had nine points for the Lady Lakers.
Shelton found other ways to confound the opposition, finishing the game with 12 points (on 4 of 15 shooting), three rebounds and five assists. Huskey had six points for the Lady Purples.
Russell County got back in the game in the third quarter, even trimming the deficit to six points. But Shelton generated one fast break with a blocked shot, and Huskey finishing the fast break, before adding a three-point play of her own to push the lead back to 39-27.
From there, it was smooth sailing for the Lady Purples.
“The first, second and fourth quarters, we were pretty good, defensively,” Head said. “That third quarter, we kind of got away from our game plan. They’re great free-throw shooters, so you can’t foul them.”
BGHS improves to 25-6 on the season while Russell County finishes 25-8.
“A lot of people didn’t expect us to win 25 games and get this far, and we did,” Russell County coach Brett Blankenship said. “We dug ourselves such a big hole … I’m proud we gave ourselves a chance, but credit to them. They’re long and athletic.”
BARREN COUNTY 72, LOGAN COUNTY 43
Elizabeth Bertram and the Barren County Trojanettes established themselves immediately, owning the boards, the pace of the game and just about everything else in eliminating Logan County.
“I thought, defensively, that we were really good,” Barren County coach Piper Lindsey said. “We were able to get them to turn it over and get some easy baskets.”
Bertram, who took over in Barren County’s 59-55 victory over Warren East, did it again against Logan County. The 5-foot-9 senior, who is headed to Campbellsville University to play NAIA basketball, finished with 31 points, five rebounds and five assists in this one.
Logan County trailed 38-14 at halftime and never threatened in the final 16 minutes.
Barren County improved to 26-6 on the season.
Kennedy Nichols led Logan County (14-17) with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Peyton Vanzant had 13 points.
Bowling Green swept the regular-season matchup with Barren County, sweeping the Trojanettes in two games both decided by double digits.
Karleigh Delk had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Trojanettes, and Raven Ennis finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.
